Brazil Breaks 60-Year Tradition by Appointing European Coach

The Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) has made a historic coaching decision by appointing Carlo Ancelotti as head coach of the Brazil national team, marking the first time the Seleção will be led by a European tactician.

This appointment is a major break from tradition in Brazilian football, which has long relied exclusively on local coaches.

Brazil’s Legacy of Local Coaching Ends

Out of more than 1,000 official matches in the national team’s history, only seven have been managed by foreign coaches. The last was Filpo Núñez, an Argentinian who briefly took charge over 60 years ago.

Remarkably, all major titles Brazil has won — including their World Cup victories — were achieved under local managers. This deep-rooted preference for homegrown coaching reflects Brazil’s enduring pride in its own footballing philosophy.

The appointment of Ancelotti, one of the most successful European coaches in history, signals a new era and possibly a shift in Brazil’s traditional approach.